Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge

In a cable-stayed bridge, instead of hanging the roadbed from cables slung over towers, the cables run directly between the roadbed and the towers. Although cable-stayed bridges have become common in Europe since World War II, they are relatively new to North America.

The bridge, designed by Swiss civil engineer Christian Menn[?], follows a new design in which two outer lanes are cantilevered outside the towers while another eight lanes run through the towers. It has a striking, graceful appearance.

The bridge is within view of the Bunker Hill Monument. Its name commemorates both the battle and Boston civic leader Leonard P. Zakim, whose theme was "building bridges between peoples". Although the bridge was completed in 2002, it will not be open to traffic until the remainder of the Big Dig is completed.

The bridge carries Interstate 93 across the Charles River.

The Big Dig construction project replaces a 50-year-old elevated highway with a depressed and covered roadway and other tunnels as well as the bridge. The project has overrun its cost estimates and has been criticized because federal funds have been expended on what is essentially a local project.